I don’t know about you, but I have super fond memories of my 14 years at Girl Scout camp. I attended Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio’s Azalea Trails every year as a camper from 1999 through 2009, went through the Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program, went on to work as a camp counselor, and eventually became an assistant camp director at a neighboring camp. But one of my favorite parts of the summers I spent in the great outdoors? The wacky lingo. Always the lingo.

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It’s almost like summer camp has it’s own secret language—a special connection to camp magic that you can only share with someone who has been through it with you. It doesn’t always make sense (and sometimes it’s straight up silly) but, as a camper, you always felt super cool when you could talk the talk, just like the counselors.

Whether your summer camp days are recent or long gone (or you’re new to camp altogether!), put your camp savvy to the test with this fun quiz!

Let's start of slow: what does BIFFY stand for?

Besties In Friendship For Years

Bathroom In Forest For You

Blueberries In Forest For You

Babies In Fashionable Frocks, Yo

Alright, now define Flashlight Fairy:

The fairy that snacks on flashlights if they're turned on during the quiet parts of campfire.

It's the name of a counselor who worked at Camp Skylark Ranch in the 70s.

It's the oldest unit at Bothin - only the Off Broadway campers stay there.

The fairy that brings you a flashlight if you forget to bring yours to camp.

Only true summer camp lovers will know this one! What do you call these things?

Camper Name Tags

Name Logs

An Arts & Crafts project?

Wood Cookies

Which one of these words is the name for a circular platform tent where campers get to live?

Platform Tent

Camper Hut

Yurt

Round Cabin

Which of these animals is the early morning swim club named after?

Polar Bear - It's the Polar Bear Swim Club!

Jaguar - It's the Jumpin' Jaguars Club!

Penguin - It's the Penguin Swim Club!

Dolphin - It's the Divin' Dolphins Club!

Okay, which of these yellow-colored things is a REAL Banana Boat?

Halfway there! What's a Kaper?

A special bedtime ritual for younger campers involving capes.

A traditional campfire skit that's been around for decades!

A chore that we all do around camp to keep it lookin' great.

The little pickled flower buds that come with your meal at fancy restaurants.

What's the name for the person who sets the tables and brings out the food during camp meal time?

The Head

The Hopper

The Server

The Foot

Nose Bag: do you know what it is?

The brown bags you pack your lunches in during camp field trips.

The bag you breathe into that helps you get adjusted to the mountain air.

A bag you can sniff when you feel camp-sick during the year!

He's something like a tiger, something like a badger, and something like a jaguar. What's this magical camp mascot's name?

Tijager

Badguar

Tajar

Tigar

What's the name for the thing these campers are hangin' out on?

A tree bed

A regular ol' hammock!

A bungalow

Think back to last night campfire... What's the official name for the wishes that you wrap around a stick before placing them in the fire?

Wishing Wands

Fire Wishes

Wishing Sticks

Fire Sticks

Last one! What does Mess Kit mean?

It's the name for boxes that counselors keep in their units, which contain games and craft supplies.

It's the name for the cleaning supply kits kept in the BIFFYs, used to clean up messes.

It's the name for the plates and utensils you bring to camp and eat off of when you do outdoor cooking.

13 Words You’ll Only Know If You’ve Been to Summer Camp

Are you sure you've been to summer camp?

It looks like you could use some help in brushing up on your summer camp lingo! 😉 Have no fear, we've got tons of summer camp options for you to explore at www.camprocks.org. Whether you want to learn to ride a horse, hang out in the Art Barn, or improve your shot at archery, you'll have the best summer of your life as you hang out with our camp mascot, Roxy Raccoon!

Share your Results :

13 Words You’ll Only Know If You’ve Been to Summer Camp

Woah, we've got a professional summer camper over here!

We can tell you've left your heart buried by the 3rd fence post because you definitely know your summer camp lingo! Camp magic is a huge part of your life and we're willing to bet that at least 70% of your summer wardrobe is tie-dye. Are you sure you're not our camp mascot, Roxy Raccoon? 😉 (Psst -- sign up for your next summer of fun at www.camprocks.org!)

Share your Results :

13 Words You’ll Only Know If You’ve Been to Summer Camp

You definitely know your stuff!

So maybe you don't live at camp during the summer, but you still love to go! Camp is a huge part of your life and you're always thankful for your week-long escapes to the mountain air, where you get to meet lifelong friends, try new things, and enjoy the magic of camp! Are you coming back to camp with us this year? Sign up to hang out with Roxy Raccoon at www.camprocks.org!

Share your Results :

Alright, so how’d you do? I got 13 out of 13, but I did create the quiz, so I guess that doesn’t count… 😉 Let me know in the comments below how you scored, the years you attended camp, and what your camp name was, if you had one!

Marissa Vessels—Marissa is a lifelong Girl Scout, Gold Awardee, and Marketing Manager at Girl Scout of Northern California. Though she’s originally from Southern California (Yay, Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council!), she moved to the East Bay to attend UC Berkeley and never looked back. One of her favorite things about Girl Scouting in the Bay Area is all the incredible hiking and camping options available to girls who love to explore the outdoors!

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12 Comments

10 out of 13
We didn’t have yerts or tree beds at the camps I attended or worked at in Kansas. Was a camper from 1977-1982, PA then CIT from ’83-’89. Camp Staff from ’90-’94. Volunteer at various camps from’95 to present.

I got 6 of 13, my result was “So maybe you don’t live at camp during the summer, but you still love to go!” Bahahaha. I literally lived at camp year round for 5 years, my parents were the camp directors and our house was on the campgrounds. Maybe some of these terms are regional or maybe I am just too old?

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